In the seven months since Natick Fire Chief James Sheridan was placed on paid administrative leave, the department has spent over $30,000 on interim promotions, and paid him over $68,000. It is also on pace to go over its overtime budget by about $100,000, due to the leave and other staffing challenges, according to town officials.

Members of the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Martha White have remained quiet on the circumstances surrounding Sheridan’s leave since it was put in place by selectmen on July 9. They refused to comment on it when contacted last week.